TikTok 
Instagram 
YouTube 
LinkedIn 
Facebook 
X 
Threads 
Pinterest 
Reddit 
Bluesky 
Discord 
Telegram 
Slack 
Mastodon 
Nostr 
Lemmy 
Dev.to 
Hashnode 
WordPress 
Whop 
Listmonk 
ChatGPT
Claude
Gemini
How to use it
- Open the post's insights in the app (Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube or X) and copy likes, comments and shares. Add saves if the platform shows them.
- Add your follower count, and reach or impressions if you have them. Any field you leave empty just skips that formula.
- For a set of posts, enter the totals and the number of posts.
The three formulas and when to use each
- By followers = interactions ÷ followers × 100. Use it to compare accounts, including competitors, since you can see their followers and interactions. It punishes accounts whose posts reach few of their followers.
- By reach = interactions ÷ reach × 100. Use it to judge the content: of the people who saw it, how many reacted. Only the account owner sees reach.
- By impressions = interactions ÷ impressions × 100. Use it next to paid campaigns, or on platforms that give views instead of reach. It is usually the lowest of the three, because one person can see a post more than once.
Examples
- One post: 420 likes, 35 comments and 12 shares is 467 interactions. With 18,000 followers that is 2.59% by followers. With a reach of 9,500 it is 4.92% by reach.
- Four posts: 2,600 likes, 140 comments, 90 shares and 170 saves in total is 3,000 interactions, or 750 per post. With 25,000 followers the average per post is 3.00%.
- A video: 3,100 likes, 95 comments and 210 shares with 41,000 reach and 60,000 impressions gives 8.30% by reach and 5.67% by impressions.
What is a good engagement rate?
It depends on the platform, the industry and the size of the account, so compare against your own past posts first. For a public reference, Rival IQ's 2026 Social Media Industry Benchmark Report (published March 5, 2026) reported these all-industry medians, calculated per post by followers:
| Platform | Median engagement rate per post, by followers |
|---|---|
| TikTok | 2.01% |
| 0.30% | |
| YouTube | 0.21% |
| X | 0.03% |
Those figures come from organic and paid posts by 150 randomly selected companies per industry, so they describe brand accounts, not individual creators. Rival IQ counts likes, comments, shares, reactions and similar interactions. Checked September 2026.
FAQ
What is the engagement rate formula?
Add up the interactions on a post (likes, comments, shares, and saves if you track them), divide by followers, reach or impressions, and multiply by 100. The denominator you pick changes the result a lot, so always say which one you used.
Which formula should I use?
By followers when you compare accounts, because follower counts are public; it is also the formula behind the Rival IQ benchmarks on this page. By reach when you judge your own content, since it only counts people who saw the post. By impressions when you compare with ads or with platforms that report views instead of reach.
Should saves count as engagement?
Many marketers count them on Instagram and TikTok because a save is a strong signal, but not every report does. Leave the field empty if you want to match a benchmark that does not include saves.
How do I calculate engagement rate for several posts?
Add up the interactions, reach and impressions of all the posts, enter the total, and set the number of posts. The followers rate is then averaged per post, and the reach and impressions rates are calculated on the totals.
Can engagement rate by reach be over 100%?
Yes, in rare cases. One person can like, comment and share, which is three interactions from one account reached. It usually means a small, very active audience or a reach number that is too low.